title: Efficacy and 9 years' follow-up of posterior intravaginal slingplasty for genital prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the long-term efficacy and complication rates of posterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) in women suffering from genital prolapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Posterior IVS or infracoccygeal sacropexy is a minimally invasive procedure for suspension of the vagina with the goal of creating new uterosacral ligaments through the insertion of a polypropylene tape. Forty-four patients were enrolled: 25 patients, affected by uterovaginal prolapse, were subjected to vaginal hysterectomy and posterior IVS; and 19 patients, diagnosed with vaginal vault prolapse, were subjected to posterior IVS alone. The primary outcome for posterior IVS was 12-month, 24-month and annual 9-year postoperative efficacy that is based on a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative score of -5 at point C, which describes the vaginal apex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 44 patients who underwent posterior IVS, none required blood transfusions with an average reduction of perioperative hemoglobin of 1.2 ± 0.4 g/dl, and the average time of hospitalization was 4.3 ± 0.6 days. The rate of success was 93.18% (41/44) at 9 years' follow-up. We had only one case of extrusion (2.27%) and three cases of recurrence (6.82%), such as two cases of cystocele and of rectocele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients interviewed confirmed that their quality of life improved after surgery, 86.36% of the operated patients reported that their sexual performance improved and that they would recommend this surgery for their friends. Posterior IVS was a minimally invasive surgical procedure with a high success rate for genital prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Ermes
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donolo
authors.forename: Jean Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madonia
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cosmi
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antimi
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dessole
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cherchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008521:Mediterranean Islands; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: follow-up; genital prolapse; posterior intravaginal slingplasty